Bayer Leverkusen FM24 Tactic & Squad Guide

Unlock the secrets of Bayer Leverkusen's first Bundesliga win under Xabi Alonso with our tactical and managerial guide for FM24.

Unlock the secrets of Bayer Leverkusen's first Bundesliga win under Xabi Alonso with our tactical and managerial guide for FM24.

In a historic 2023-2024 season, Bayer Leverkusen clinched their first Bundesliga title, a triumph masterminded by Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen's performance was not just a title win but a statement, ending Bayern Munich's long-standing dominance. Under Alonso's leadership, the team displayed a formidable unbeaten streak across all competitions, highlighting their tactical resilience and depth. This remarkable season included a victory over Bayern Munich that put Leverkusen 16 points clear at the top, underscoring their tactical superiority and team synergy. With such a phenomenal season, Bayer Leverkusen has firmly positioned themselves as a top contender in German and European football, offering a rich scenario for Football Manager 2024 enthusiasts to explore​

About Bayer Leverkusen

Founded in 1904, Bayer Leverkusen has long been associated with the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, based in Leverkusen, Germany. The club's historical journey through German football peaked spectacularly in the 2023-2024 season under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso, capturing their inaugural Bundesliga title and shedding their "Nearly Men" nickname. This victory was complemented by an extended unbeaten run that set new records in German football, underscoring Leverkusen's rise to prominence. The team's commitment to integrating youth with experience has turned their BayArena home into a fortress, supported by robust training facilities and a celebrated youth academy

The board requirements in FM24

· Make the top 4 of the Bundesliga (Automatic Qualification into the UCL)
· reach the latter stages of the DFB Pokal.
· reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Additionally, you will be required to play entertaining football with an emphasis in signing young players for the first team and to be developed for the future.

Leverkusen has good training facilities and a very good youth system. However, after you stabilize your position at the club, you will need to work on improving these.

READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024 Transfer Budgets 

Squad, Formation and Tactical Style in FM24

Leverkusen are a team that generally like to play on the counter. They like playing a fast-tempo game and releasing their wide midfielders/wingbacks into attacking positions. A counter-attacking tactic or wingplay is best suited for this squad of players.

A 5-4-1 is probably the best formation for the available squad of players. This also helps them maintain width and release the ball quickly to counter opponents.

A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 5-4-1 formation is as follows;

Bayer Leverkusen's tactical formation leverages the specific strengths of its players, creating a balanced and dynamic approach to both defence and attack. Lukas Hradecky’s role as a sweeper-keeper is crucial for intercepting long balls and facilitating build-up play from the back. 

The trio of Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, and Odion Kossounou in defence combines ball handling and spatial coverage to effectively link defence with the midfield. 

Midfielders Exequiel Palacios and Granit Xhaka complement each other, with Palacios focusing on ball recovery and Xhaka orchestrating play with his deep passes. 

Up front, the duo of Jonas Hoffman and Florian Wirtz provides creative thrust, while Victor Boniface, as a pressing forward, ensures Leverkusen initiates their high press, keeping opponents on the back foot. 

This setup not only maximizes individual talents but also enhances the team's collective ability to control the game and execute their strategic plans effectively.

READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024 Tactics

Key Players

Jonas Hofmann

The German attacking midfielder is the best player at the club. With 24 league goals in the last 2 seasons alone, Hoffman is a big goal threat who is capable of setting up goals too.

Alex Grimaldo

One of the best fullbacks in the game, Grimaldo, is excellent at setting up goals for his attackers. He is also an able defender and one of the key players in this Leverkusen side.

Granit Xhaka

The Swiss midfielder is on the back of an excellent season with Arsenal and is one of the best players in this Leverkusen squad.

READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024 Best Players Shortlist 

Young Prospects

There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,

Piero Hincapie

The Spanish fullback is one of the best young players in his position and in time will develop into an elite player.

Adam Hlozek

The Czech attacker has been a wonderkid for several editions of the game and has the potential to be an elite player for Leverkusen in the future.

READ ALSO: Football Manager 2024 Wonderkids Shortlist

Weaknesses

· The quality of the squad's backups may not be up to par, and if your squad is affected by injuries, it could prove fatal.

· You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs, especially in search of higher wages.

· This is a very young squad, and the inexperience will show in big matches.

Potential Transfers (in)

Although Leverkusen's squad is not the best in the league in terms of squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.

· Arnau Martinez
· Assan Ouedraogo

Potential Transfers (Out)

These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.

· Arthur
· Robert Andrich

Conclusion

For many FM24 managers, Bayer Leverkusen is a very exciting club to manage. However, dethroning the usual suspects is quite difficult and a real challenge, even for the most seasoned managers. Are you up for it?